Bacteria in Breastmilk Causes Colitis

Bacteria in Breastmilk Causes Colitis. Presenter: Michael Maddocks.

Introduction. “There is some evidence to suggest that an unknown contamination of the nipple can be a source of infection for infants” (Lopez). Low-to-middle class families of Mexico are incapable of proper hygiene because the Federal Government of Mexico does not provide proper care for their citizens (Cervantes, Gonzales, Flores, Quiroz, Escobedo, Vadillo, Calvillo, Mena 2020). As a result, many residents of Mexico living in poverty have a higher chance of obtaining illnesses especially in unsanitary environments. Anthropologically, I researched low-to-middle class Mexicans, specifically mothers, unknowingly giving their newborns unhealthy bacteria, which causes digestive infections, like Colitis . Colitis is an autoimmune disease within the inner lining of the colon. Doctors have discovered Colitis in newborns while being breastfed from their mother’s unwashed breasts (Lopez). Within my research paper, I will argue how Mexican mothers are stigmatized by the Biomedical Authority, The Medical Gaze, and the process during and after natural birth..

Biomedical Authority. Biomedical Authority is defined as “When the doctor is being biased towards the patient and their illness” (Jackson 2018). EX: In the event of the patient who was seeking a final diagnosis of Colitis , gets their cognizant belief that something was wrong discarded by a physician, then the individual may then seek a second opinion. This results in delay of care based on the inequity some encounter. At the same time, judgment is placed on the mother for allowing unhygienic actions to occur. Furthermore, evidence shows that mothers living in Mexico rely on Biopower. According to Foucault, Biopower is “self-discipline that responsible citizens impose on their bodies and psychics as a moral responsibility” (Greenhalgh 2001). EX: Correspondingly, the Anthrosource I provided explained how for generations, mothers have had to rely on themselves as well as their midwife during the pregnancy process (Lopez). As one can see, Mexican mothers rely on the biopower of themselves; however, not the biopower of the government due to insufficient medical treatment outside of the home..

Medical Gaze. In accordance with Foucault, Medical Gaze is characterized by focusing on the illness itself rather than the care of the patient (Greenhalgh 2001). The variances between Lopez’s article and the news article is that the news article focuses more on the illness statistics among recent mothers. Likewise, Lopez’s article highlights validation that the patient she is interviewing experiences Medical Gaze, based on the notion that physicians failed to treat her appropriately, therefore the only resource may have been for the patient to utilize a midwife for sufficient unbiased care. To clarify, the diagnosis may have been given but no treatment plan began, as the physician's impression is that the mother, due to unsanitary conditions, caused such etiologies to occur..

Process of Natural Birth. “Hospitals often refuse to treat Indigenous people - or they prolong seeing them, leading to births in public” (Vega 2018). Consequently, those low-class mothers may have to give birth in public or unsanitized environments increasing both hers and the child's chance of disease. Due to this, a bacterial strand could get ingested in the mother’s system, affecting the breast glands, which could cause disease to the child. According to the news article, they discovered 25 bacterial strains within human milk from fecal matter (Cervantes, Gonzales, Flores, Quiroz, Escobedo, Vadillo, Calvillo, Mena 2020). This is reflective of the above findings of the Lopez patient that was diagnosed with Colitis, which is found in babies from fecal matter..

Conclusion. In conclusion, throughout my research paper, I objected that Mexican mothers are victimized by the Biomedical Authority, The Medical Gaze, and the process during and after natural birth. It has been shown that not only any mother could encounter such dilemmas, but those in low class and poverty-stricken areas are more likely to be ostracized from needed care. It also was discovered that doctors have authority over what patients they want to treat, even diagnosing a patient with no treatment plan. In other words, the idea of a monetary return has more value to a doctor than care. Under those circumstances, Mexican mothers seek care through a midwife, at home or within a low income, unsanitized facility. Therefore, these low-class mothers, in this minority group may not only harm themselves, but their newborn in the process, based on insufficient resources and care..

Bibliography. Corona-Cervantes, Karina, Igrid García-González, Loan Edel Villalobos-Flores, Fernando Hernández-Quiroz, Alberto Piña-Escobedo, Carlos Hoyo-Vadillo, Martín Noé Rangel-Calvillo, and Jaime García-Mena. “Human Milk Microbiota Associated with Early Colonization of the Neonatal Gut in Mexican Newborns.” PeerJ . PeerJ Inc., May 22, 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7247532/ . López, Jenna Murray de. “Maintaining the Flow: Medical Challenges to Breastfeeding and ‘Risky’ Bodies in Mexico.” AnthroSource . John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, April 1, 2019. https://anthrosource.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/maq.12511 ..